432-00581 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned by the continuing violence in Cameroon, including in the Northwest and Southwest regions (NWSW). The promotion and protection of human rights is a pillar of Canadian foreign policy. As such, the Government will continue to condemn violence and human rights violations in Cameroon, and encourage all parties to the conflict in the NWSW to seek an inclusive negotiated solution.

Canada provides funding to the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s (HD) facilitation efforts and supports Switzerland’s mediation efforts. Canada also finances Swisspeace’s work with various civil society peacebuilders in Cameroon as well as the efforts of the regional NGO Réseau des Défenseurs des Droits Humains en Afrique Centrale (REDHAC) to place women and girls at the centre of peace and reconciliation in Central Africa.

Canadian officials, including Canada’s High Commissioner to Cameroon, have raised Canada’s human rights concerns with Cameroonian authorities and have encouraged the Government of Cameroon to take steps towards a negotiated solution. On March 11, 2021, the Minister of Foreign Affairs discussed with his Cameroonian counterpart the need for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the NWSW regions of Cameroon. In the Fall of 2020, Canada’s High Commissioner to Cameroon visited the Southwest region and signaled Canada’s ongoing concerns about the NWSW crisis with various local stakeholders, including civil society and government officials.

Canada has consistently and publicly condemned violence and human rights violations in the NWSW regions of Cameroon. For example, on January 14, 2021, Canada shared its deep concerns following the upsurge in violence in several towns, including around Mautu, and called for an impartial investigation of the perpetrators of violence. On February 17, 2021, Canada voiced its concerns following the killings of traditional Chiefs. On February 26, 2021, the Canadian High Commission in Cameroon expressed concerns about violence perpetrated in March 2020 against civilians in Ebam (including murder and rapes), following the publication of a Human Rights Watch report.

In addition to public statements and direct engagement with Cameroonian officials, Canada continues to raise its concerns about the situation in Cameroon in international fora, including during Cameroon’s most recent Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Sanctions are an important component of Canada’s principled and pragmatic approach to foreign policy, which also includes dialogue, capacity building, advocacy, multilateral engagement, and other diplomatic actions. The regulations enacted under the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act allow the Government of Canada to target individuals responsible for, or complicit in, gross violations of internationally recognized human rights or acts of significant corruption. A rigorous due diligence process has been established to consider and evaluate possible cases of human rights violations or corruption against the criteria set out in the Act, within the context of other ongoing efforts to promote human rights and combat corruption. The Government of Canada tailors its responses to the specifics of each unique situation. Canada is judicious in its approach regarding when to deploy sanctions and/or draw on other courses of action in our diplomatic toolkit based on foreign policy priorities.

The Government of Canada continues to call for respect for human rights and for a negotiated peace in Cameroon.